rippingille



2 sheet s -sheat 2.

(No Model) B. A. 'RIPPINGILLB.

Lamp.

Patented Aug. 31,1880.

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N1 PETERS, PHOTOMTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT GEEIQE.

EDWARD A. RIPPINGILLE, oE HOLBORN AND BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND.

LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 231,730, dated August31, 1880;] Application filed May 25, 1880. (No model.) Patented inEngland February 19, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD ALEXANDER RIPPINGILLE, a subjectof the Queenof Great Britain, residing at Holborn, in the county of Middlesex, andat Birmingham, in the county 1 of Warwick, England, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Reading or Student and otherLamps, (for which I have received Letters Patent in England, No. 668,dated February 19,1879,) of which the following is a specification.

The invention has for its object improvements in reading or student andother lamps, and relates to an improved arrangement of parts whereby aregulated supply of oil is supplied to the well of the burner asrequired, while the necessity hitherto existing for removing the innerportion of the oil-cistern for filling the sanieis'obviated; and inorder that my said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, I willproceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,fully to describe the same.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 is a plan,of a reading-lamp constructed according to my invention. In Fig. 2 thecover of the oil-chamber is removed in order to show the interiorthereof more clearly. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3, Fig.2, and Fig. 4. is a horizontal section on the line 1 l of Fig. 3. Fig. 5is a vertical section on the line at 4., Fig. 6, and Fig. 6 is ahorizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 3, showing the interiorconstruction of the oilchamber with the float and thimble removedtherefrom; and Fig. 7 is an elevation of the float and thimble carriedthereby.

In carrying my invention into effect I connect a float, a, resting onthe surface of the oil in the reservoir 1), by a central or other rod,to, sliding in a tubular guide, a to a cup or thimble, a which works inan annular or other space between two concentric or other tubes, 1) bconnected together hermetically at their upper ends by a continuousring, b and carried by the bottom of the oil-cistern b, and forming,wit-h the cup or 'thimble 0. an

adjustable siphon or trap. Wicks b, of wire or other material, restingat one end on the bottom of the oil-cistern I), extend over the ring bconnecting the concentric tubes b b to the interior of the cup orthimble a and maintain the supply of oil thereto by capillaryattraction, even when the oil is low in the cistern that is to say,below the top of the tubes b 12 but when the oil is above the top I) ofsuch tubes 1) b it passes directly into such cup or thimble a The oil isconducted by a tube, 0, to the well (1 of the burner, which well isformed around the wick-tube e, and is hermetically closed at the upperend, as shown, so as to cause the air contained therein to be trapped,and thereby to apply a force under the bottom of the oil-cistern b, bywhich means, as the oil is consumed and the pressure of the air in thewell (I and tube 0 is thereby reduced, a supply of oil is permitted todescend from the cistern b into the well (I, as required.

The difference in level between the liquid in the wick-tube e and thatin the annular space, d, surroundingit will be the same as the distancebetween the upper surface of the liquid in the reservoir 1) and the topof the suspended siphon-cup a 7 hen the lamp is first filled the levelof the oil in the inner or wick tube, 0, is higher than that in theannular space, (I, surrounding it. This is due to the, pressure of theair trapped under the thimble. This pressure gradually diminishes as theoil-receiver is emptied, so that when it is almost empty there would belittle or no difference.

The excess of ressure of the air trapped within thesupply-tube depressesthe oil slightly below the lips or edges of the thimble or suspendedsiphoncup, and thereby prevents the flooding of the burner.

I would here remark that this arrangement for giving a regulated supplyof oil to the biirner is applicable to various forms of lamps, and thatthe float and trap may be modified in form to suit different-shapedoil-containers, or for other reasons.

By the use of this invention the reservoir of such description of lampsmay be filled while the lamp is burning through an opening in the topthereof provided with a screwed cover, b.

I have not shown a burner applied to the wick-tube e, as any suitabledescription. of burner may be employed, as is well under.- stood.

Having thus described the nature of my said i invention, and the mode inwhich I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that whatI claim is 1. In a reservoir-lamp, the automatically-ad- 5 justable trapformed by cup a and inverted cup I) 12 b the former being supported by afloat, a, in the reservoir, and the latter oommunicating with saidreservoir and with a trapped space beneath it, for the purpose set I oforth.

2. The combination of the float a, cup or thirnble a, connectedtherewith,tubes b N, carried by the bottom of reservoir 1) and connectedtogether by the ring if, and the wicks b, with the tube 0, well d, andwick-tube 0, sub- 15 stantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ED. ALEXR. RIPPINGILLE. Witnesses CHARLES WILLIAM PORTER,

233 Park Road, Aston, Birmingham. FRANK WHEELWRIGHT,

149 Church Lane, Aston, Birmingham.

